FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 


THE   LIBRARY  OF 


PRINCETON   THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


DItUM 
S«ctioi 


scT 


■ 


' 


HYMNS", 


BY 


WILLIAM    CULLEN    BBYANT 


2^5^   S>1.  ) 


</h&* 


A  - 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Hymn  I, 5 

"the  lord  giveth  wisdom." 

Htmk€II, 6 

"THY   WOED   IS   TRUtEl. 

Hymn  III, 8 

"THE   EARTH   IS  FULL  OF  THY  RICHES." 

Hymn  IX, 10 

"  HIS   TENDER   MERCIES   ARE    OYER   ALL   HIS  WORKS." 

Hymn  V, 12 

"BLESSED   ARE   THEY   THAT   MOURN," 

Hymn  VI,     .  14 

"NO   MAN   KNOWETH   HIS   SEPULCHRE." 

Hymn  VII, 16 

"A  BROKEN  AND  A  CONTRITE  HEART  WILL  HE  NOT  DESPISE." 


IV 


PAGE. 

Hymn   VI IT, 18 

"HOW   AMIABLE   AKE   THY   TABERNACLES!  " 

Hymn  IX, 20 

"HE    MAKETH    THE    WINKS    HIS    MESSENGERS." 

Hymn  X, 22 

"  EXCEPT  THE  LORD  BUILD  THE  HOUSE,  THEY  LABOR  IN  VATS 
THAT  BUILD  IT." 

Hymn  XI, 24 

"THE   TRUTH   SHALL   MAKE   YOU  FREE."    . 

Hymn  XII. 26 

"OTHER  SHEEP  I  HAVE,  WHICH  ARE  NOT  OF  THIS  FOLD:  THEM 

-0 

ALSO  MUST  I  BRING." 

Hymn  XIII, 28 

"THOU,    GOD,    SEEST   ME." 

Hymn  XIV, 29 

THE  MOTHER'S  HYMN. 

Hymn  XV,       .  31 

"HIS  MOTHER  KEPT  ALL  THESE  SAYINGS  IN  HER  HEART." 

Hymn  XVI, 33 

"WHATSOEVER   HE   SAITH   UNTO   YOU,    DO   IT." 

Hymn  VII, 35 

"PROCLAIM   LIBERTY   THROUGH   ALL   THE   LAND." 

Hymn  VIII, 37 

"THIS  DO  IN   REMEMBRANCE   OF   ME." 

Hymn  XIX 39 

"THOU   HAST   PUT  ALL  THINGS   UNDER   HIS   FEET." 


HYMN  I. 

"THE    LORD    GIVETH   WISDOM." 

Mighty  Oxe,  before  whose  face 
Wisdom  had  her  glorious  seat, 

When  the  orbs  that  people  space 
Sprang  to  birth  beneath  thy  feet! 

Source  of  Truth,  whose  beams  alone 
Light  the  mighty  world  of  mind  ! 

God  of  Love,  who,  from  thy  throne, 
Watchest  over  all  mankind ! 

Shed  on  those  who,  in  Thy  name, 
Teach  the  way  of  Truth  and  Right, 

Shed  that  Love's  undying  flame, 
Shed  that  Wisdom's  guiding  light. 


HYMN  II. 


THY    WORD    IS    TRUTH. 


Oh,  thou,  whose  Love  can  ne'er  forget 

Its  offspring,  Great  Eternal  Mind! 
We  thank  thee  that  thy  truth  is  yet 
A  sojourner  among  mankind ; 

A  light  before  whose  brightness  fall 
The  feet  arrayed  to  tread  it  down, 

A  voice  whose  strong  and  solemn  call 
The  cry  of  nations  cannot  drown. 

Thy  servants,  at  this  sacred  hour, 

With  humble  prayer  thy  throne  surround, 


That  here,  in  glory  and  in  power, 

That  light  may  shine,  that  voice  may  sound; 

Till  Error's  shades  shall  flee  away, 
And  Faith,  descending  from  above, 

Amid  the  pure  and  perfect  day, 
Shall  bring  her  fairer  sister  Love. 


HYMN  III. 

"THE   EARTH    IS    FULL    OF   THY    RICHES.'' 

Almighty,  hear  thy  children  raise 
The  voice  of  thankfulness  and  praise, 
To  Him  whose  wisdom  deigned  to  plan 
This  fair  and  bright  abode  for  man. 

For  when  this  orb  of  sea  and  land 
Was  moulded  in  thy  forming  hand, 
Thy  calm,  benignant  smile  impressed 
A  beam  of  heaven  upon  its  breast. 

Then  rose  the  hills,  and  broad  and  green 
The  vale's  deep  pathway  sank  between; 


Then  stretched  the  plains  to  where  the  sky 
Stoops  and  shuts  in  the  exploring  eye. 

Beneath  that  smile  earth's  blossoms  glowed, 
Her  fountains  gushed,  her  rivers  flowed, 
And  from  the  shadowy  wood  was  heard 
The  pleasant  sounds  of  breeze  and  bird. 

Thy  hand  outspread  the  billowy  plains 
Of  ocean,  nurse  of  genial  rains, 
Hung  high  the  glorious  sun  and  set 
Night's  cressets  in  her  arch  of  jet. 

Lord,  teach  us,  while  the  unsated  gaze 
Delighted  on  thy  works  delays, 
To  deem  the  forms  of  beauty  here 
But  shadows  of  a  brighter  sphere. 


HYMN    IV. 

HIS   TENDER  MERCIES  ARE  OVER  ALL  HIS  WORKS. 

Our  Father!  to  thy  love  we  owe 
All  that  is  fair  and  good  below. 
Where'er  in  life  our  steps  are  led 
Thy  mercies  strow  the  path  we  tread. 

Oh,  Giver  of  the  quickening  rain ! 

Oh,  Ripener  of  the  golden  grain ! 

The  day's  broad  light,  the  beams  that  shine 

In  all  the  stars  of  heaven  are  thine. 

Thy  frosts  arrest,  thy  tempests  chase 
The  plagues  that  waste  our  helpless  race, 


11 


Thy  softer  breath,  o'er  land  and  deep, 
Wakes  nature  from  her  winter  sleep. 

Yet.  deem  we  not  that  thus  alone 
Thy  bounty  and  thy  love  are  shown. 
For  we  have  learned  with  higher  praise 
And  holier  names  to  speak  thy  ways. 

In  woe's  dark  hour  our  kindest  stay, 
Sole  trust  when  life  shall  pass  away, 
Teacher  of  hopes  that  light  the  gloom 
Of  Death,  and  consecrate  the  tomb. 

Patient  with  headstrong  guilt  to  bear, 
Slow  to  avenge  and  kind  to  spare, 
Listening  to  prayer  and  reconciled 
Full  soon  to  thy  repentant  child. 


HYMN    V. 

"BLESSED   ARE   THEY   THAT   MOURN." 

Deem  not  that  they  are  blest  alone 
Whose  days  a  peaceful  tenor  keep  ; 

The,  Anointed  Son  of  God  makes  known 
A  blessing  for  the  eyes  that  weep. 

The  light  of  smiles  shall  fill  again 
Tilt-  lids  that  overflow  with  tears, 

And  weary  hours  of  woe  and  pain 
Are  promises  of  happier  years. 

Oh,  there  are  days  of  sunny  rest 
For  every  dark  and  troubled  night, 


And  Grief  may  bide,  an  evening  guest. 
But  Joy  shall  come  with  early  light. 

And  thou,  who,  o'er  thy  friend's  low  bier, 
Dost  shed  the  bitter  drops  like  rain, 

Hope  that  a  brighter,  happier  sphere 
Will  give  him  to  thy  arms  again. 

Nor  let  the  good  man's  trust  depart, 
Though  life  its  common  gifts  denv  ; 

Though,  with  a  pierced  and  bleeding  heart, 
And  spurned  of  men,  he  goes  to  die. 

For  God  hath  marked  each  sorrowing  day. 
And  numbered  every  secret  tear, 

And  heaven's  long  age  of  bliss  shall  pay 
For  all  his  children  suffer  here. 


HYMN  VI. 


"  NO   MAN   KNOWETH    OF    HIS    SEPULCHRE.' 


When  lie  who,  from  the  scourge  of  wrong, 
Aroused  the  Hebrew  tribes  to  fly, 

Saw  the  fair  region  promised  long, 
And  bowed  him  on  the  hills  to  die ; 

God  made  his  grave,  to  men  unknown, 
Where  Moab's  rocks  a  vale  infold, 

And  laid  the  aged  seer  alone, 

To  slumber  while  the  world  grows  old. 

Thus  still,  whene'er  the  good  and  just 
Close  their  dim  eyes  on  life  and  pain, 


15 


Heaven  watches  o'er  their  slumbering  dust 
Till  the  pure  spirit  comes  again. 


Though  nameless,  trampled  and  forgot, 
His  servant's  humble  ashes  lie, 

Yet  God  has  marked  and  sealed  the  spot, 
To  call  its  inmate  to  the  sky. 


HYMN  VII. 


"  A    BROKEN     AND    A   CONTRITE     HEART,    OH    GOD, 
THOTI   WILT   NOT   DESriSE." 


On  God,  whose  dread  and  dazzling  brow 

Love  never  yet  forsook  ! 
On  those  who  seek  thy  presence  now 

In  deep  compassion  look. 

Aid  our  weak  steps  and  eyesight  dim 

The  paths  of  peace  to  find, 
And  lead  us  all  to  learn  of  Him 

Who  died  to  save  mankind. 


For  many  a  frail  and  erring  heart 


Is  in  thy  holy  sight. 


17 

And  feet  too  willing  to  depart 
From  the  plain  way  of  right. 

Yet,  pleased  the  humble  prayer  to  hear, 

And  kind  to  all  that  live, 
Thou,  when  thou  seest  the  contrite  tear, 

Art  ready  to  forgive. 


HYMN  VIII. 
"how  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles!" 

Thou,  whose  unmeasured  temple  stands, 

Built  over  earth  and  sea, 
Accept  the  walls  that  human  hands 

Have  raised.  Oh  God !  to  thee. 

And  let  the  Comforter  and  Friend, 

Thy  Holy  Spirit,  meet 
"With,  those  who  here  in  worship  bend 

Before  thy  mercy  seat. 

M;iy  they  who  err  be  guided  here 
To  find  the  better  way, 


19 


And  they  who  mourn  and  they  who  fear 
Be  strengthened  as  they  pray. 

May  faitli  grow  firm,  and  love  grow  warm, 

And  hallowed  wishes  riser 
While  round  these  peaceful  walls  the  storm 

Of  earth-born  passion  dies. 

^  / 


HYMN  IX. 


I   WILL  SEND  TIIEM  PROPHETS  AND  APOSTLES*'3 


All  that  in  tins  wide  world  we  see, 
Almighty  Father !  speaks  of  Thee  : 
And  in  the  darkness,  or  the  day, 
Thy  monitors  surround  our  way. 

The  fearful  storms  that  sweep  the  sky,. 
The  maladies  by  which  we  die, 
The  pangs  that  make  the  guilty  groan r 
Are  angels  from  thy  awful  throne. 

Each  mercy  sent  when  sorrows  lower. 
Each  blessing  of  the  winged  hour, 


21 


All  we  enjoy,  and  all  we  love, 
Bring  with  them  lessons  from  above. 

Xor  thus  content,  thy  gracious  hand. 
Prom  midst  the  children  of  the  land. 
Hath  raised,  to  stand  before  our  race, 
Thv  living  messengers  of  grace.  ■ 

We  thank  thee  that  so  clear  a  ray 
Shines  on  thy  straight,  thy  chosen  way. 
And  pray  that  passion,  sloth,  or  pride, 
May  never  lure  our  steps  aside. 


HYMN  X. 


u  EXCEPT   THE  LORD   BUILD  THE  HOUSE,  THEY  LABOR- 
IN   VAIN   THAT   BUILD   IT." 


Ancient  of  Days  !    except  thou  deign 
Upon  the  finished  task  to  smile, 

The  workman's  hand  hath  toiled  in  vain. 
To  hew  the  rock  and  rear  the  pile. 

Oh,  let  thy  peace,  the  peace  that  tames 
The  wayward  heart,  inhabit  here, 

That  quenches  passion's  fiercest  names, 
And  thaws  the  deadly  frost  of  fear. 

And  send  thy  love,  the  love  that  bears 
Meekly  with  hate,  and  scorn,  and  wrongs 


23 


And  loads  itself  with  generous  cares, 
And  toils,  and  hopes,  and  watches  long. 

Here  may  bold  tongues  thy  truth  proclaim, 
Unmingled  with  the  dreams  of  men, 

As  from  His  holy  lips  it  came 
"Who  died  for  us  and  rose  again. 


HYMN  XI. 

"  THE   TRUTH    SHALL   MAKE   YOU    FREE." 

Lord,  from  whose  glorious  presence  came 
The  truth  that  made  our  fathers  free, 

And  kindled  in  their  hearts  the  flame 
Of  love  to  man  and  love  to  thee. 

Bow  the  great  heavens,  thy  throne  of  light. 

And  fill  these  walls,  as  once,  of  yore, 
Thy  spirit  rested  in  its  might 

Upon  the  ark  that  Israel  bore. 

Here,  let  thy  love  be  strong  to  draw 
Our  wavering  hearts  to  do  thy  will, 


25 


And  hush  them  with  the  holy  awe 
That  makes  the  rebel  passions  still. 

And  while  thy  children,  frail  and  blind. 
Here  bend  in  humble  prayer  to  thee, 

Oh,  shed  abroad,  on  every  mind, 

The  truth  that  made  our  fathers  free. 


HYMN  XII. 


OTHER     SHEEP    I    HAVE,    WHICH   ARE   NOT    OF    THIS 
FOLD  :    THEM   ALSO    I   MUST   BRING." 


Look  from  the  sphere  of  endless  day, 
Oh,  God  of  mercy  and  of  might ! 

In  pity  look  on  those  who  stray, 
Benighted,  in  this  land  of  light. 

In  peopled  yale,  in  lonely  glen, 
In  crowded  mart  by  stream  or  sea, 

How  many  of  the  sons  of  men 

Hear  not  the  message  sent  from  thee. 


27 


Send  forth  thy  heralds,  Lord,  to  call 

The  thoughtless  young,  the  hardened  old, 

A  wandering  flock,  and  bring  them  all 
To  the  Good  Shepherd's  peaceful  fold. 

Send  them  thy  mighty  word  to  speak 

Till  faith  shall  dawn  and  doubt'  depart, — 

To  awe  the  bold,  to  stay  the  weak, 
And  bind  and  heal  the  broken  heart. 

Then  all  these  wastes,  a  dreary  scene, 
On  which,  with  sorrowing  eyes,  we  gaze, 

Shall  grow  with  living  waters  green, 
And  lift  to  heaven  the  voice  of  praise. 


HYMN    XIII. 


THOU,    GOD,    SEE8T    ME." 


When  this  song  of  praise  shall  cease. 

Let  thy  children,  Lord,  depart 
With  the  blessing  of  thy  peace 

And  thy  love  in  every  heart. 

Oil,  where'er  our  path  may  lie, 

Father,  let  ns  not  forget 
That  we  walk  beneath  thine  eye, 

That  thy  care  upholds  us  yet. 

Blind  are  Ave,  and  weak,  and  frail ; 

Be  thine  aid  forever  near  ; 
May  the  fear  to  sin  prevail 

( )ver  every  other  fear. 


HYMN    XIV. 

THE  MOTHER'S  HYMN. 


BLESSED    ART    THOU   AMONG   WOMEN." 


Loed,  who  ordain  est  for  mankind 
Benignant  toils  and  tender  cares, 

W  e  thank  thee  for  the  ties  that  bind 
The  mother  to  the  child  she  bears. 


We  thank  thee  for  the  hopes  that  rise 
Within  her  heart,  as,  day  by  clay, 

The  dawning  sonl,  from  those  young  eyes, 
Looks  with  a  clearer,  steadier  ray. 

And,  grateful  for  the  blessing  given 
With  that  dear  infant  on  her  knee, 


30 


She  trains  the  eye  to  look  to  heaven r 
The  voice  to  lisp  a  prayer  to  thee. 

Such  thanks  the  blessed  Mary  gave 
When  from  her  lap  the  Holy  Child, 

Sent  from  on  high  to  seek  and  save 
The  lost  of  earth,  looked  up  and  smiled. 

All-Gracious  !  grant  to  those  who  hear 
A  mother's  charge,  the  strength  and  light 

To  guide  the  feet  that  own  their  care 
In  ways  of  Love,  and  Truth,  and  Eight. 


i. 


HYMN    XV. 

HIS    MOTHER    KEPT    ALL     THESE     SAYIXGS     IN     HER 
HEART." 

As  o'er  the  cradle  of  her  Son 

The  blessed  Mary  hung, 
And  chanted  to  the  Anointed  One 

The  psalms  that  David  snng, 

What  joy  her  bosom  must  have  known. 

As,  with  a  sweet  surprise, 
She  marked  the  boundless  love  that  shone 

"Within  his  infant  eves. 

But  deeper  was  her  joy  to  hear, 
Even  in  his  ripening  youth, 


32 


And  treasure  up,  from  year  to  year, 
J I  is  wprds  of  grace  and  truth. 

Oh,  may  we  keep  his  words  like  her, 
In  all  their  Jife  and  power, 

And  to  the  law  of  love  refer 
The  acts  of  every  hour. 


HYMX    XVI. 


i;  WHATSOEVER    HE    SAITH    UNTO    YOU,   DO    IT.*' 


"  Whate'ee  lie  bids  observe  and  do  ;,? 

Such  were  tbe  words  that  Mary  said, 
What  time  the  Holy  One  and  True 

Sat  where  the  marriage  feast  was  spread. 

Then,  at  his  word,  the  servants  sought 

The  streams  from  Cana's  fountains  poured. 

And  lo  !  the  crystal  water  brought 
Was  ruddy  wine  upon  the  board. 

AVhate'er  he  bids  observe  and  do ; 
Such  be  the  law  that  we  obey, 


34 


And  greater  wonders  men  shall  view 
Than  that  of  Cana's  bridal  clay. 


The  flinty  heart  with  love  shall  beat, 

The  chains  shall  fall  from  passion's  slave. 

The  proud  shall  sit  at  Jesus'  feet 

And  learn  the  truths  that  bless  and  save. 


HYMN  XVII. 


"  PROCLAIM    LIBERTY    THROUGHOLT    THE    LAXD." 


Go  forth,  oli  Word  of  Christ !  go  forth, 
Oh  Truth  of  God  supremely  strong ! 

To  banish,  from  the  groaning  earth, 
All  forms  of  tyranny  and  wrong. 

For  where  the  Word  of  Christ  prevails 
To  touch  a  nation's  mighty  heart, 

The  oppressor's  pride  before  it  quails. 
The  links  of  bondage  fall  apart. 

When  the  pure  faith  by  Jesus  taught 
Its  conquering  course  on  earth  began, 

Where'er  the  blessed  news  was  brought 
The  fettered  slave  stood  up  a  man. 


36 


Still  may  thy  heralds,  Lord,  proclaim 
The  gracious  message  published  then, 

And  teach  the  world,  in  Jesus'  name, 
How  love  makes  free  the  sons  of  men. 


HYMN    XYIII. 

COMMUNION     HYMN. 
"THIS    DO    IN   REMEMBRANCE    OF   ME." 

All  praise  to  Him  of  Nazareth, 

The  Holy  One  who  came 
For  love  of  man  to  die  a  death 

Of  agony  and  shame. 

Dark  was  the  grave ;  but  since  he  lay 

Within  its  dreary  cell, 
The  beams  of  heaven's  eternal  day 

Upon  its  threshhold  dwell. 

He  grasped  the  iron  veil,  he  drew 
Its  gloomy  folds  aside, 


38 


And  opened  to  his  followers'  view 
The  glorious  world  they  hide. 

In  tender  memory  of  his  grave 
The  mystic  bread  we  take, 

And  muse  upon  the  life  he  gave 
For' our  unworthy  sake. 

A  boundless  love  he  bore  mankind ; 

Oh,  may  at  least  a  part 
Of  that  strong  love  descend  and  find 

A  place  in  every  heart. 


HYMX    XIX. 


"THOU  HAST  PUT  ALL  THIXGS  UXDER  HIS  FEET/r 


Oh,  North,  with  all  thy  vales  of  green ! 

0  South,  with  all  thy  palms ! 
From  peopled  towns  and  fields  between 

Uplift  the  voice  of  psalms. 
Baise,  ancient  East!  the  anthem  high, 
And  let  the  youthful  West  reply. 

Lo !  in  the  clouds  of  Heaven  appears 

God's  well-beloved  Son, 
He  brings  a  train  of  brighter  years, 

His  kingdom  is  begun. 
He  comes  a  guilty  world  to  bless, 
With  mercy,  truth  and  righteousness. 


40 


Oh,  Father!  haste  the  promised  hour, 

When  at  His  feet  shall  lie 
All  rule,  authority,  and  power, 

Beneath  the  ample  sky: 
When  He  shall  reign  from  pole  to  pole. 
The  Lord  of  every  human  soul. 

When  all  shall  heed  the  words  He  said, 

Amid  their  daily  cares, 
And,  by  the  loving  life  He  led, 

Shall  strive  to  pattern  theirs: 
And  He  who  conquered  Death  shall  win 
The  mightier  conquest  over  Sin. 


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